Can opener



B. H. JOHNSON Dec. 5, 1950 CAN OPENER Filed July 3; 1948 FIG. 4

INVENTOR. BERT h. JOHNSON ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 5, 1950 CAN OPENER Bert H. Johnson, Moline, Illl, assignor to Quad- City Engineering 00., Rock Island, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application July 3, 1948, Serial No. 36,961

7 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to can openers and more particularly to can openers of the type adapted to pierce the tops of cans to provide an opening through which the contents can be poured, or which can be used for drinking the contents from the can. The principal object of the invention relates to the provision of a novel and improved can opener which is simpler and less expensive to manufacture, but which is more efficient in operation than those heretofore known.

Another object relates to the provision of a can opener which is simpler in operation and can be operated with one hand. Heretofore, devices of this general class require the can to be placed with one hand and pierced by a lever actuated either by the other hand or by the foot of the operator. According to the principles of the present invention the can is set in position and pierced by one continuous movement, using only one hand. In fact, two cans can be pierced simultaneously by one operator, using both hands and two can piercing devices, thus expediting the work of opening a large number of cans.

A further object relates to the provision of a can opener from which the pierced can can be removed without spilling any of the contents. This is accomplished by virtue of the fact that the can is removed without the necessity for tipping the can.

Still another object has to do with the provision of a can opener which has only one moving part and, due to its simplicity of construction is easier to keep in a clean and sanitary condition.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following description of one embodiment, in which reference will be had to the drawings appended hereto, in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a can opener embodying the principles of the present invention showing the device in loading position prior to piercing a can, the latter being indicated in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l but showing the device in can-piercing position;

Figure 3 is a top plan view showing the device in piercing position; and

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the device in the position shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, the can opener comprises a fixed support 5 and a can carrier or cradle 6 swingably mounted thereon. The support 5 is in the form of an angular bracket having a vertical back wall portion 1, an overhanging generally horizontal top plate 8, and a pair of laterally spaced vertical flanges 9, It depending along opposite sides thereof. Preferably, the bracket 5 is formed as an integral piece and has perforations H in the back wall 1 and other perforations |2 in the top plate 3 to receive screws or other suitable means for fixably securing the bracket 5 to any vertical support M or beneath a horizontal overhanging support It, such as a counter or table, indicated in dotted lines.

The can carrier or cradle 6 comprises a baillike portion 26 curved in a U-shape to define a pair of arms 2|, 22 positioned beneath the plate 8 with the arms extending forwardly between the depending flanges 9, Ill. The ends of the arms 2|, 22 are provided with outwardly offset supporting portions 23, 24 which lie against the inner sides of the flanges 9, II), respectively, and are pivotally mounted on the latter by means of a pair of coaxial pivot pins 25, 26, respectively, near the forward ends of the depending flanges 9, Ill.

The cradle 6 further includes a can carrying portion 21, which is preferably formed integrally with the mid-portion or rear of the bail 2i] and depends therefrom. The portion 21! is curved on the same radius as the bail 20, which is slightly greater than the radius of the cylindrical can 30, to receive the latter and conform to its outer surface. The carrying portion 2? has near its lower end a pair of forwardly turned, laterally spaced lips 3|, 32 providing abutments to receive and support the lower edge or bead 33 of the can to be opened. Between the two forwardly projecting lips 3|, 32 is a downwardly extending tongue or handle portion 34, the purpose of which will become apparent later.

In its normal position of repose, the cradle 21 hangs on its pivot pins 25, 26 in an inclined position, substantially as shown in Figure 1, but can be swung upwardly and rearwardly into the piercing position of Figure 2 in which the bail 2B is horizontal and the portion 21 is vertical.

A piercing tool 35 is rigidly mounted by suitable means, as by screws 3%, on the bottom of the plate 8 in a position to be straddled by the arms 2|, 22 of the bail portion 23 when the cradle is'in piercing position. The tool 35 comprises a solid pyramidal block of stainless steel or other suitable durable metal, and has an apex 46 positioned forwardly toward the center of curvature of the tween the arms 2!, 22 and places the can on the.

rear carrying portion 2! with the lower edge 33 on the lips 3|, 32. A continuousarearward :pres:

sur against the can forces the latter; guided bythe cradle, upwardly and rearwardly against the tool 35. The apex 4i! pierces thetop of-the can at a point inwardly of its edge and the two cutting edges 45, 46 cut the can top along a pair of rear-.

wardly outwardly diverging lines to form a triangular tongue, 4? which isbent rearwardly-iand; downwardlyinto the canbythe bottomandrear surfaces 43, Minor the-tool-:35.

The can is thenlifted from thefcrwardly pro jecti'ngilips El; 32 and lowered away from-the tcol, irra vsubstantially level position; This is facilitatedwbythe shortness of the lips and by. the downwardly extenclingtongue 34, which can rbe engaged by thethird orfourth finger of theoper atorfsshandto disengage the edge 33 :oithe can from-ithe lips 3t, 32: The cradle 6 automaticallyswings downwardlyand-forwardly by gravity asthe canismovedvaway, thus returning ,to its normal position of repose, readyior another opera tion'; If desired, the operatorcan open two cans simultaneously 'iftwo can openers are mounted sidexb' rside' beneath the, counter or on the side" of Pa wall.

Once'the piercing-action has started, the camming' action of the inclined bottom surface 53 of the tool'against-the' tongue ilcut in the top'ofthe can 38': tends to urge-the can rearward-1y against the carrying portion 2? and preventszthe can'from slipping off thelips 31, 32. The cut tonguedldsdorced' down into the-can wher it is-v out of the way to permit pouring or drinking ,the contents: without interference. The triangular shape of-the'opening cut by the tool, with theapex of the opening toward the center of the can permits.- emptying the can easily. without another vent opening in the can.

The simplicity of the parts and the construe tion of the-toolas a solid block facilitatesicleam;

ing and provides a more sanitary device than;

those heretofore known. The toolcan be easily removed for replacement or sharpening by. re-

moving the two screws 35'. The offset ends 23; 240i the bail 2!)provide a minimum of frictionbetween the bail and the flanges 9, H3 and a wider entrance for the can.

I do not intend my invention to be limited'to the particular details shown and described herein, except as set forth in the claims whichfollow:

I claim:

1; A can opener comprising in combination, a-

support, a piercing tool depending from said support, a can-carrying cradle disposed beneath said piercing tool and having a pair of'arms spaced laterally to receive a can therebetween,

means coaxially pivotally mounting the outer ends cf'said arms on said'support on opposite sides of said tool, respectively, providing for up-. Ward: swinging movement of said: cradle and". a-

can carried thereby into a position wherein: said;

tool pierces: the-top of said can.

2. A can opener comprising in combination, an overhanging support, a piercing tool depending from said support, a can-carrying cradle swingably disposed beneath said piercing tool and comprising an upper bail portion pivotally mounted on said support by means providing for swinging movement toward and away from said tool about an axis extending between tl ie' ends of'said bail portion and means depending from the mid-portion of said bail portion for receiving a can and serving as a carrier therefor to. guide the same upwardly about said axis into engagement with said piercing tool.

3; A can opener as-claimed in claim 2, including the further provision that said depending can-receiving means includes an abutment for supportingtheedge of the can and a portion extending below said abutment serving as a handle for disengaging the can from said abutment.

4:; A can opener as-claimed in claim 2, including-'the-furtherprovision that said piercing tool,- comprises a pyramidal metal blockpositioned to. be-straddled by saidbail in can-piercing ,posi-, tion.

5.- A- can'opener aszclaimedin claimA, include ing-the further provision that said pyramidal-.

t -having a pair of outwardly-diverging, generally.- vertical sides having cutting edges thereon, and

a bottom surface inclined outwardly and upwardly'from said apex and engageable; with the;

cut portion of the can: to; bend--the-.-same into the;-

can.

6. A can opener comprising.in combination, an; overhanging support, a piercing'tool depending-- from said support, a can-carrying cradle swingably disposed beneath said piercing: tool. and, comprising an upper bail portion havingits ends: normally extendinggenerally forwardly. toward:

the operator to receivea can therebetween-andpivotally mounted on said support by means providing for upward and rearward swinging movement about a transverse axis extending between the ends of said bail portion, into ..a. can-piercing position-in which said bail jstrade. dles said tool, said cradle also havingiaican carry ing portion depending from the rear portion of the bail and having a forwardly projecting; lip

for supportingthe bottom edge of the can, said cradle being swingable upwardly to guide a can therein upwardlyinto piercing engagement-with said tool.

7. The combination set forth in claim-.6, inecluding'the further provision that saidzoverhanging support comprises a bracket having a, horizontal plate and a pair of laterally spaced flanges depending from said plate, and saidbail having its ends pivotally mounted on said flanges, respectively, said piercing tool being fixed to-thebottom of said platebetween said flanges.

BERT I-L JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references areiofrecord-inthe file of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,315,339 Schwartzberg Sept: 9, 1919 2,272,204 Hothersall Feb. 10, 191 2 2,364,219: Johnson Dec. 5;, 1944i 

